Scientific Name

Other common names

Greening, yellow shoot, yellow dragon

Disease cycle

Huanglongbing (HLB) is presumptively caused by a phloem limited bacteria. In citrus there are three forms of concern, the Asian, African and American forms. The Asian form of HLB expresses symptoms in both cool and warm conditions. The African form of HLB expresses symptoms only in cool conditions (20-250 C, 68-770 F).

Both isolates can be vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Kuwayana) and by the psyllid Trioza erytreae (Del Guercio). The American form was identified in Brazil in 2004 and is transmitted by D. citri there.

HLB can be graft transmitted but transmission rates are variable because of irregular distribution of bacteria within the host plant. Seed transmission may be possible but studies are not yet conclusive and if it occurs it is only at very low levels and the disease does not seem to persist beyond early seedling stages. The most important method of disease spread occurs by the two species of psyllids that serve as vectors. HLB can be acquired by both nymphs and adults, which can maintain and transmit the disease throughout their 3- to 4-month lifespan. HLB is systemic and has an incubation period of three months to multiple years before symptoms are visible.

Symptoms

Leaf - although symptoms differ according to citrus variety, common symptoms may be described. The most characteristic symptom of HLB is a blotchy mottle. This mottling is distinct from nutrient deficiency in that HLB induced mottling usually crosses the veins and is asymmetrically displayed on the leaf blade. Mottling is most frequently found on newly mature hardened-off leaves but fades with leaf age. The blotchy mottle will be visible on both sides of the leaf and have multiple hues of yellow and green. Dark green areas can sometimes be reduced to small circular dark green dots that contrast with the light yellow/green background. This symptom is referred to as green islands and had been occasionally observed on sweet orange. In addition to blotchy mottle, infected leaves may be thicker and leathery and have raised corky veins. It is common to observe foliar symptoms that resemble nutrient deficiency similar to zinc patterned deficiency. A tree affected by HLB may exhibit yellow shoots and or deficiency symptoms that are on one or many branches randomly arranged in the canopy. This contrasts with a true nutrition deficiency that is exhibited uniformly throughout the canopy. On severely infected branches leaves may form "rabbit ears" that are small upright shoots with compressed internodes.

Fruit - fruit may be small and lopsided. Cut fruit may have a curved axis and the vascular columella can be stained orange-brown. Seed abortion is also common. Fruit may ripen backwards with the stylar end remaining green as the fruit colors. The fruit symptoms with major economic impact are the reduction in fruit size, premature fruit drop, low content of soluble acids in the juice and a bitter or salty taste of the juice

Whole tree - the irregular distribution of symptoms on the tree corresponds with the irregular distribution of the bacteria in the tree. On severely infected trees, foliage may be sparse with the top third of the canopy being thin. Eventually the tree may go into a complete decline, collapse, and die. Trees with a prolonged infection appear stunted when compared to healthy trees.

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